The Jackson 5 > I Want You Back (Z-Trip Remix)
Composed by The Corporation
I suppose, in the end, this is what everyone is saying.
Michael Jackson Week #5
Legends of Soul #38
Legends of Pop #10
Michael Jackson > Billie Jean
Composed by Michael Jackson
It’s hard making MJ Week shorter than a month, but I couldn’t avoid Billie Jean, yes?
This was the track that made everyone take notice, since many thought MJ had just gone from being a Motown toy to a Q tool (not that Quincy wasn’t a force in his own right).
Michael Jackson Week #4
Legends of Soul #37
Legends of Pop #9
Legends of Singer/Songwriters #6
USA for Africa > We Are the World
Composed by Michael Jackson & Lionel Richie
Well, it’s established fact that I’m a wimp, so it might not surprise you I think that We Are the World is one of the high points of Michael’s discography.
WATW is one of those magical mixes of pop and gospel, with a memorable melody, and the more stars than there are in heaven line-up doesn’t hurt either. It disappointed, but didn’t surprise, when the music biz hipsters didn’t give the song Video of the Year at the 1985 VMAs, but the people spoke, and it still makes me cry.
Michael Jackson Week #3
Legends (and more legends) of Pop #11
The Jackson 5 > I’ll Be There
Composed by Berry Gordy, Bob West, Hal Davis, Willie Hutch
This ballad proved Michael was the beginning of the proof that Michael was a musician not a machine (and it was written and produced by humans not The Corporation). Always one of my favorites.
Michael Jackson Week #2
Legends of Soul #38
Legends of Pop #10
Legends of Songwriting #17
Michael Jackson > Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough
Composed by Michael Jackson
I heard this record and realized that Michael’s talent seemed to come from somewhere in the sky, completely bypassing his brain and going right to his voice and his feet.
Michael Jackson Week #1
Legends of Soul #37
Legends of Pop #9
Legends of Singer/Songwriters #6
Johnny Hodges > Castle Rock
Composed by Al Sears
I first heard this out of character track on a long (sadly) out-of-print Mosaic box. Suprising? Yes. Happy? Yes.
Louis Jordan & his Tympany 5 > Caldonia
Composed by Fleecie Moore (or probably Louis Jordan)
My hero.
(So much so, I couldn’t figure out which of my ten equal faves should be posted. This one was one of his biggest, most covered hits.)
Wynonie Harris> Good Rocking Tonight
Composed by Roy Brown
In the second half of the 20th century, this title was probably more famous than the actual song. But it was a genuine hit many times over, for Wynonie, its composer, and most famous of all, for Elvis.
Louis Prima w/Sam Butera > Be Mine (LIttle Baby)
Composed by Louis Prima & Sam Butera
There was a decade where the difference between pop, jazz, R&B, blues, white and black all mixed together and it took an anthropologist to figure out the diff.
Ray Charles > Oh What A Beautiful Morning
Composed by Richard Rodgers & Oscar Hammerstein II
Can’t help myself, two Ray Charles beauties in one week! I’ve got an irrational RC cover love, this one in particular, in spite of the corny late-Basie charts.
Beautiful Week #5
Legends of Soul #26
Legends of the Piano #9
Legends of Pop #7
Cover #49
